If
you've never been to the Port Manatee Hatchery, you've missed out on an
informative morning and afternoon. So it was for the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club, which toured the
hatchery earlier this month with our FWC host, Gina Russo, who provided mountains of information
about the gamefish we love to pursue.
Much
of the discussion focused on the redfish that live in the hatchery. We’ve all
spent a lot of time looking for that elusive spotted tail on the Tampa Bay
flats, and a wealth of helpful insight flowed out of the Dec. 12 trip,
including:
·
Redfish can live 25-35 years.
·
The Florida hook-and-line record for redfish is 52 pounds, 5
ounces.
·
The Florida state record
for a red on fly is 43 pounds and was taken from the Banana River.
·
Reds were banned from commercial harvest in Florida in 1989.
Approximately 2.1 million were harvested in the mid ‘80s, but that number
dropped to nearly 250,000 in 1993.
·
On average, redfish grow to 40 inches, 40 pounds in the Gulf of
Mexico and 45 inches to 52 pounds in the Atlantic.
·
Reds can vary in coloration. In general, muddy water produces
bright red fish. Sandy bottoms and clear water yield a lighter colored fish.
Special
thanks to Gina and the rest of the FWC hatchery staff for the informative
morning and relaxing afternoon fishing the nearby ponds for snook, redfish and
baby tarpon. Also a pat on the back goes to Alligator Bob for lunch.
I'll have a video up soon.
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